Refurbished AirPods Pro: Amazon’s Hidden Risk?
I’ve repaired thousands of phones and gadgets, and I’ve seen just about everything. But recently, I stumbled upon something curious on Amazon: refurbished AirPods Pro. As you know they’re notoriously difficult to open, service, and reassemble without compromising their look or functionality.
Looking at it, I was intrigued and skeptical.
I ordered three different pairs of refurbished AirPods Pro, priced at CAD $220 each, just to find out what “refurbished” really means in this context. Did they replace the batteries? Were they cleaned, tested, or just repackaged? Let’s find out.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Each unit came in a sealed package that looked fairly professional.
Amazon didn’t make any bold claims. The listing only stated that these AirPods were “inspected, tested, and refurbished.” There was no mention of battery health or component replacement.
Inside were the AirPods Pro, a charging case, a charging cable that appeared to be original, and new silicone ear tips. So far, so good.
The first pair looked almost brand new. The case was OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and clean.
No corrosion, no fake parts, and even the wireless charging function worked. The MagSafe magnets were present in some cases but not all, depending on the version of the case.
Functionality Check: Where Things Started Falling Apart
I connected the first pair to my phone. Everything seemed fine at first, but once I started listening, the left AirPod immediately crackled, made strange noises, and then cut out completely. This was a major red flag.
Naturally, I opened it up to inspect the internals. I noticed no visible repairs, no battery replacements, and only a slight sign of tampering. It looked like a genuine OEM product, but clearly something was wrong inside.
Second Pair: Worse Than the First
The second pair was visibly used. There were scratches on the AirPods and some dirt in the charging case. The connection was okay, but as soon as I wore them, the right earbud started blasting static. Both sides then erupted in loud, painful noise. It was genuinely uncomfortable.
This hurt my ears so much
Once again, Amazon claimed these were tested. Based on my experience, there’s no way they tested these properly.
Third Pair: The Best of the Bunch, But Still Not Great
The third and final pair was the most promising. They looked nearly new and had both wireless charging and MagSafe support. When I tested the sound, they mostly worked.
However, there was still occasional static noise in the right earbud, and the battery life was about 2 to 3 hours. Not terrible, but definitely not like new.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Refurbished AirPods on Amazon?
In short, probably not. Only 1 out of 3 pairs was even close to functional, and even that one had noticeable flaws.
Here are my main takeaways:
Testing is questionable. If Amazon or the refurbishing company tested these units, they missed major faults.
Cosmetic condition varies. Some look new, others are clearly used.
Battery life is unpredictable. None of the listings disclosed battery health.
Sound issues are common. Two out of three pairs had serious audio problems.
Bottom Line:
I’m a big supporter of refurbished tech when it’s done right. It’s better for the environment and often more affordable.
Refurbished AirPods from Amazon may look fine on the outside, but internally, they’re often a gamble. If you're looking for reliability, it may be worth spending a little extra or going with a refurbisher you can trust.
